Air quality

Operate heavy machinery and equipment that is well maintained and in good working order.

Inspect machinery regularly to ensure proper operation and maintain in accordance with recommended practices.

Where possible, turn off gasoline-powered vehicles and equipment when not in use.

Prohibit, at all times, the burning of waste in or near the work area.

Use a tarp to cover fine materials stored on site, if required.

Adopt a work method that minimizes dust emissions and oxide emissions and/or exhausts from motor vehicles. If necessary, control of dust emissions from the work may be done by water spraying, containment equipment and, if necessary, another type of dust suppressant that complies with standard BNQ 2410-300.

Noises and vibrations

Schedule particularly noisy work during normal working hours and in accordance with municipal requirements, i.e. from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Ensure that noisy equipment is properly maintained and that machinery silencers are in good condition.

Avoid engine idling as much as possible.

Limit the use of engine braking to a minimum when transporting equipment and materials.

Use and maintain motorized equipment in good working order (mufflers and other noise reduction systems).

Water quality

For interventions planned below the level of the HHWLT, when applicable, prioritize their implementation in exposed areas at low tide at low tide when possible. Stabilize the site before the tide returns.

Place stones on the seabed, or as close to the bottom as possible, rather than dropping them from the surface to limit further encroachment and sediment suspension.

For machinery that will come into contact with surface water, use a biodegradable HF lubricating oil.

Do not use fine materials as a driving surface for temporary access road construction, if applicable.

Do not allow machinery to circulate in the water.

Limit to a strict minimum the circulation of machinery in the event that it must pass below the level of the HHWLT when the area is exposed.

Interrupt work when difficult weather conditions (e.g.: strong winds, storm, etc.) are anticipated or occur in order to avoid dispersion of sediment outside the work area.

Machinery shall not be stored within 30 m of the shoreline or a watercourse, nor shall it be operated on the beds of water bodies.

Vehicle maintenance, refueling and storage of fuel or other hazardous materials shall be done, as much as possible, at a minimum distance of 30 meters from the shore. If this distance cannot be respected, containment measures must be applied.

Ensure that machinery is clean and free of leaks.

Where work requires immersing machinery parts in water, the Contractor shall ensure that they are free from contamination and any oil leaks.

Benthic and ichthyological fauna and aquatic flora

Design and stabilize temporary structures, where applicable, so that they withstand environmental conditions (e.g., tides, waves) likely to occur during the work period.

Do not use fine materials as a rolling surface for the construction of temporary access roads, if necessary.

Use clean, clear stone to create the rock protection.

Avoid night work between April 16 and August 31 to protect the migration of anadromous and catadromous species.

Avian fauna

Do not approach a colony of seabirds and waterfowl during the breeding and nesting period )between May 15 and August 1^st), stay at least 300 m from the colonies and avoid disturbing migratory birds during the breeding period, in order to avoid disturbance and minimize bycatch.

Marine Mammals and Species at Risk

If an endangered cetacean (blue whale, fin whale and right whale) or leatherback turtle is observed within 200 m of the aquatic work area, stop the work and wait for the animal to move more than 200 m away.

Invasive species

Ensure that work equipment and machinery are clean and free of invasive species upon arrival at the site and maintain this condition thereafter.

For equipment that has been cleaned and stored on land immediately prior to completion of the work, the contractor is only required to provide, in writing, to the department representative:

A list of such equipment

1.         The location of storage

2.         The proposed launch date.

3.         The department representative must be able to verify that the equipment was clean and stored on land before the work was performed.  

For equipment already in the water, the contractor shall demonstrate that the floating equipment is free of invasive species prior to mobilization to the work site. The contractor shall provide a written inspection report, immediately prior to mobilization to the work site, certifying that the equipment is free of invasive species.

Before work begins:

• Inspect and clean all equipment (machinery, barges) that will be used during the work far from bodies of water.

• Remove any traces of mud, aquatic plants or other dirt and dispose of the residue in the garbage or landfill.

During the work:

• Dispose of spoil affected by invasive species in a location far from bodies of water, preferably in a landfill.

At the end of the work:

• Before leaving the body of water, empty any water that may be in your equipment.

• Clean and dry all your equipment that has been in contact with water during the work.

The release into the water of aquatic invasive species found on equipment, machinery or artificial structures is prohibited.

Navigation and port facilities

Comply with all conditions of the approval issued under the Canada Navigable Waters Act.

Ensure the safety of users by marking the work area and installing adequate navigation signs.

Land use and area residents

Plan the work to be done during normal working hours and in accordance with municipal requirements.

Suspend work requiring the use of particularly noisy machinery on Sundays, public holidays and in the evening and at night between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Throughout the work, clean roads as required.

Following the work, restore the roads to a condition at least equal to their initial state, and do so as soon as possible.

Residual materials management 

Provide facilities to receive residual and recyclable materials.

Dispose of non-recyclable and recyclable waste separately.

Ensure that no waste is left on the site.

Dispose of all waste and residual materials in accordance with applicable regulations and ensure that no waste materials are burned, buried or dumped on site.

Accidents and failures

The discharge of hydrocarbons, solvents, thinners or any hazardous substances into waterways, storm and sanitary sewers is prohibited.

No discharge of hazardous materials (oils and wastewater, etc.) into water will be tolerated. Their disposal will be done in accordance with the regulations in force so as not to harm the environment.

The contractor shall ensure that all hazardous materials destined for disposal are managed in accordance with current regulations (wood preservatives, empty containers, sawdust and wood residues, soiled soils, etc.) The contractor shall ensure that the machinery is in good working order (trucks and any other machinery used) and well maintained, to avoid oil, grease and fuel leaks.

The contractor shall ensure that the machinery is in good working order (trucks and other machinery used) and well maintained to avoid oil, grease and fuel leaks.

The contractor shall identify the risks of spills of toxic substances that will be used or stored during the work. The contractor shall provide for prevention and safety measures, as well as an emergency plan in case of a spill.

Petroleum hydrocarbons will be handled with care, stored with caution (at least 30 meters from the shore) and disposed of according to current regulations to prevent accidental spills into the water or onto the ground.

Vehicle maintenance, refueling and storage of fuel or other hazardous materials shall be done, as much as possible, at a minimum distance of 30 meters from the shore. If this distance cannot be respected, containment measures shall be applied.

The contractor shall have a readily accessible emergency spill kit on site throughout the work.

When refueling machinery, all measures are taken to minimize the risk of accidental spills (stabilization of equipment and machinery before proceeding, presence of a complete petroleum product spill kit, etc.).

In the event of an equipment breakdown/accidental spill, the appropriate emergency measures will be applied to control the situation and, if necessary, the breakdown will be repaired immediately. The area affected and contaminated by toxic substances will be contained, cleaned and the contaminated material will be removed and transported to an authorized site via a specialized firm.

The incident should be reported immediately to the Environment Canada hotline at 1-866-283-2333, Urgence Environnement du Québec (1-866-694-5454) for a land spill and the Canadian Coast Guard – maritime pollution (1-800-363-4735), and to the site supervisor.

Oil shall be recovered and contaminated soil disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations. The numbers shall be provided to the contractor in charge of the work and posted on the site.

Accidental spills shall be reported to the DFO-SCH representative and as soon as possible.

Should an accidental spill occur, contaminated soil or fill material shall:

• be placed in piles on waterproof cloths and covered with waterproof cloths
• be sampled according to the methods recommended in the CEHQ's Guide d'échantillonnage à des fins d'analyses environnementales, Cahier 5 : Échantillonnage des sols
• be subjected to chemical analyses in the laboratory, i.e. C10 to C50 petroleum hydrocarbons, metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and volatile organic compounds (VOC).
• be managed according to the regulations in force and sent to an authorized site.